WelcomeThe irresistible force of technological change leads inexorably to the new Honda Fireblade and Suzuki GSX-R1000, each loaded with enough electronic brilliance and engineering ingenuity to alter the laws of physics. I’m looking forward to riding them with a mixture of sweaty palmed excitement and utter dread. The excitement is a given – jeez, they’ve got nearly 200bhp. The dread is not because the mindwarping performance will expose my limitations as a human being (though it will) but because this will become, for a while, the new normal. In the same way that the sweet Triumph 675 Daytona, the sensational Suzuki GSX-R750 and the scintillating (old) Honda Fireblade were once the latest, greatest and most exciting things, as sure as eggs is eggs they are now last year’s models, about to be made obsolete. Yet by any rational judgement they are still more motorcycle than I can exploit, and glorious things to have in your garage.

The new bikes make the world a better place and we love the relentless techno fest that makes them more powerful, better handling and safer, but we also love the fact that as the manufacturers introduce new bikes they’re forced to offer amazing deals on the old ones. Enjoy the technical insights about the new ‘Blade and GSX-R1000, but revel too in the astonishing 2016 Triumph 675 Daytona, Suzuki GSX-R750 and Honda Fireblade. They may be obsolete, but they’re still amazing, and now they’re bargains too.

Plus get your free 32-page choosers guide in this issue.

Enjoy the issue,

Hugo WilsonEditor

Inside this issue...

NEW BIKES

Retro lovelies and high-tech starships - If the Racer doesn’t make you go ‘ooh’ then we suggest you check for a pulse.

THIS IS YOUR NEW BENCHMARK

Faster, lighter, easier to ride – Honda’s crisp new CBR1000RR Fireblade SP goes back to the model’s roots and is ready to reset the expectations for a large sportsbike...all over again.

DIRTY GREAT RETROS

Pompidou Centre exhaust pipes - check. Fashion statement tyres– check. Nod to an imagined past – check. Time to find out which scrambler is king of the urban playground and coffee shop cool…